Improvement in machines for punching metal plates



2 Shets-Sheet 1.

k c. MASON.

MACHINE FOR PUNCHING METAL PLATES. No. 185,117. Patented Dec. 5, 1876.

THE GRAPHIC COJLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

C. MASON. MACHINE FOR P-UNCHING METAL PLATES. No.185,117. Patented Dec.5, 1876.

THE GRAPHIC CO.N.Y

OAELILE MASON, OF cnIcAco, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, GEORGE MAsON,JAMES A. MASON, AND JOHN MOHR, ALL OF SAME PLAcE.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR PUNCHING METAL PLATES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 185,1 l 7, datedDecember 5, 1876; application filed July 22, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OARLILE MASON, of the city of Chicago, Cook county,State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Machinesfor Punching Metal Plates, of which the following is a full description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 isa side elevation; Fig. 2, a plan view; Fig. 3, an end view; Fig. 4, anenlarged elevation of that part of the machine which regulates thedistance between the holes; Figs. 5, 6, and 7, details of some of theparts shown in Fig. 4.

The objects of this invention are to construct a machine which can beused in punching sheet-metal plates, by the use of a pivoted adjustableguide-bar and traveling guide combined with the table, ashereinaftermore fully described, and by means of peculiar devices forregulating the distance between the holes. The machine is so constructedthat it can be used for punching holes in plates of diiferent widths.

In the drawings, A represents a stationary frame or bed; B, a frameresting upon ways a, and having a lateral movement. I) is a screw, bymeans of which the frame B is adjusted laterally. G is another frame,resting and moving upon the ways 0 upon the top of the frame B. D is atable, pivoted at the center to the frame 0. E is a guide-bar, having agroove in the upper side, as shown in Fig. 3. It is pivoted at cl to theframe B. e is a bell-crank lever, having one end projecting beyond theside of the frame B. The other end is pivoted to the frame B, and alsoto one end of the arm f. pivoted to the under side of the guide-bar E. gis a plate secured in a slot or opening in the side of the frame B. Itis provided with holes to receive a pin, which passes through the lever0 and this plate g. h is a traveling block, located in the groove inguide-bar E. It is provided with rollers 2', arranged to move upon thetop of the guide E. j is a pin, which passes through a hole in the endof the table D, and into the top of the traveling block h. F is a barlocated a little distance from the frame 0, supported by and secured torods or bars G, which are permanently connected to one side ot' theframe (3. k are circular pieces of metal, each of which is permanentlyfastened The other end of this armfis upon one end of a pin, '0, whichpins pass through and rotate in suitable holes in the bar F. To theother end of these pins 1; are permanently secured arms H, the lowerends of which are pivoted to the movable bar I.

J is a bar, pivoted to F at l, and to I at m.' The lower end of this barJ has a hole to receive a pin, and the bar I is enlarged and providedwith corresponding holes n. 1' is a handle upon I.

The center circular piece of metal 70 is socured at its center to thepin '0; but all the remaining pieces k are eccentrically secured to thepins 11. Those upon the right hand of the central piece is are soarranged that the eccentric is below the center line, and those upon theleft hand so that the eccentric is above the center line, and theeccentricity regularly increases from the center toward each end.

12 is a bar designed to pass between the circular pieces it. Its lowerend is pivoted to some part of the machine, and its upper end, asrepresented, is pivoted to the bar 8, which slides in suitable guides. Kis a punch-head. The punch is not represented.

The bar F might be located close to the frame (3, or the disks k mightbe pivoted directly in such frame.

The guide-bar E is pivoted to the frame B at a point the same distancefrom the center of the machine-such center being on a line with thepunch-as the distance from the center of the table 0 to the pin j, sothat when the center of the table is exactly opposite the punch the pinj is exactly over the pivotal point 61 of the guide-bar. If, then, theguidebar be located parallel with the frame B, the table D will move ina direct line, which position is adapted to the punching of holes instraight lines. If the guide-bar be thrown over to one side, as shown inFig. 2, and the table D be placed in the position represented in theSame figure, the outer end of the table will be thrown inward, and theother end will be thrown outward. In this position the parts are adaptedto the punching of holes in a curved line, because as the frame 0travels over the ways 0, the forward end of the table, being pivoted inthe traveling block h, moving in the guidebar IE, will carry the end ofthe pivoted table D over toward the punch,

and when the center of the table is on a line with the punch, the pinjbeing over the pivotal point d, the table will be parallel with theframe upon which itis pivoted. By the continued movement of the tablethe same end will be carried still farther over, and the holes punchedduring this movement will be in a curved line. This curved line will beeither convex or concave, as the inner end of the guide-bar is thrownover either to the right or left.

It will be observed that the guide-bar E is pivoted midway between thetwo sides of the frame B, and that when thrown out of a straight lineone end is to the right and the other to the left of this center.

The sheet to be punched is secured to the table D by means of dogs orclamps located in slots in the table. These parts are not shown, but arewell known. The sheet to be punched is located so that its center isalong the center line of the table, and by means of the screw 1) theposition of the frame B and the parts above ,are so adjusted as to bringthe edge of the sheet the proper distance under the punch. When theholes have been punched in one edge of the sheet the table D can bereversed and then carried back to the position represented in Fig. 2,and the holes punched in the opposite edge. The position of theguide-bar E is changed by means of the lever e. A number of plates, g,may be prepared with holes properly adjusted to place this bar E at anydesired angle, and the proper plate 9 can be placed in the machine whena change is required in the angle. It will be better to use a number ofthese plates, rather than a single one with a large number of holes. Theadjustable frame B might be advantageously used for some kinds of workwith the frame 0 and a fixed table.

It is customary to make boilers and other tubes with tapered courses;and in such cases i the holes in one edge of the plate must be a littlefarther apart than those in the other, which is accomplished in mymachine by the eccentric pieces 70 and the parts connected therewith.

-The distance between the holes is determined by the distance betweenthe pieces 70,

and the bar 12, coming between these pieces 6, serves as a stop to limitthe movement of the table after one hole has been punched, andpreparatory to the punching ofanother. This stop 19 can beoperatedautomatically. When these pieces 70 and the parts connected there withare in the position represented in Fig. 4, the distance from the centerof each piece Ir to the edge of the adjoining piece is uniform.Supposing this distance to be' two inches, the holes punched in theplate will be all two inches apart. Now, if it be required tomake thedistance between the holes a little greater, this can be accomplished byturning the pieces k partially around, which can be done through-theparts H I J, bringing these pieces 10' and the parts connectedtherewith. into .the position represented by the dotted lines in Fig. 4,in which the distance between the pieces 70 gradually increases from thecenter each way as the result of their eccentricity. As has been stated,and as will be seen by reference to Fig. 4., this eccentricity increasesregularly both to the right and to the left from the central piecek; andthe distance between the holes can be made greater or less by turningthe pieces It more or less.

I have represented only seven of these pieces 70, but actually use anypractical number. I have used as many as sixty four.

If the piece k, adjoining the central piece, be placed upon the pin r,so as to be one-sixteenth of an inch from its center, the next one mustbe two-sixteenths from its center, andv the next three-sixteenths, andso on to the end.

The frame B may be moved by a rack and pinion. The frame 0, while themetal is being punched, is moved by means of a Weight in the usualmanner, and returned by a crank and a rack and pinion.

Instead of arranging the disks 70 as shown, one of the end ones might bepivoted at its center, all the others being eccentrically pivoted, theeccentricity being upon the same side of the center; but in such case itwould be necessary, when the sheet is turned, either to change itsposition slightly, or to change the position of the stop. Hence, theform shown is thebest.

I am aware that a guide-bar to receive a block or shoe has been used;but such bar has been pivoted at the center of the machine, and in suchmachine, when the holes are to be punched in a curved line, the sheetmust be secured upon the table diagonally with great care, and the tablewith the sheet cannot be reversed; but after the holes have been punchedin one edge the sheet must be removed and turned around before punchingthe holes .in the other edge.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is asfollows:

1. In amachine for punching sheet metal, the guide-bar E, pivoted at ornear its center, and at a point some distance from a line drawntransversely across the machine in a line with the punch, as described,in combi nation with a reversible table, D, and traveling block h,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a machine for punching sheet metal, the pivoted disks It, incombination with suitable devices for moving and holding the same, allconstructed and operating substantially as specified.

' 3. In a machine for punching sheet metal, the framesB and O and tableD, in com bination with the guidebar E, substantially as and for thepurpose specified.

' GARLILE MASON.

' Witnesses:

E. A. WEs'r, 0. W. BOND.

